Fire extinguisher



May 10 I927.

lll

P. G. M GREGQR FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Oct. 13. 1924 INVENTOR Pefe'r 6. Mac Grqgor A TTOliWEY Patented lVlay 10, 1927.

UNITEDSTATES rn'rnn G. MAGGREGOR, or rE'eUaNNocK, NEW JERSEY, lissrenon TO PYRENE MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, or NEWARK, new A CORPORATION or DELA- WARE.

FIRE 'EXTINGUISHER.

Application filed October 13, .1924. Serial No. 743,348.

' This invention relates to improvements in fire extinguishers, and especially to an improved extinguisher of the foam or two-solution type, which is adapted normally, that is when not being operated to cause ejection:

inner container, against which lip astopple "or seal 1s adapted tobe pressed to effect positive sealing of said container, the operating or pressure means for said seal being mounted inthestand-forming capwhich 1s normally the upperportion of the apparatus,

but which serves as its base when the extinguisher is reversed for operation. a

The abovementioned and other features of the invention nothereinbefore referred to will be hereinafter described and claimed and are illustrated in they accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a view partly in vertical sectionand partly in side elevation of a fire extinguishing apparatus embodying the present invention. Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 of Fi ure 1.

Re erring to the drawings, 2 designates a solution receptacle of a well-known type adapted normally, that is when not being operated to cause ejection of fluid, to rest upon a base portion 3 thereof and which is provided with a cap 4 at the other end thereof adaptedto provide a stand or rest for the extinguisher when the same is. inverted to cause ejection of. fire-extinguishing fluid. Said cap 4 may also be used as the base or stand for the extinguisher at the timeswhen' the liquids within the receptacle are not permitted to escape therefrom. At 5 is shown a flexible tube adapted for attachment to an outlet member 6 leading from the receptacle 2,, said tube serving to permit directing of the fire-extinguishing fluid in the ordinary manner. The cap 4; is adapted for attachment to or detachment from the body of the receptacle 2, it being here shown as screwthreadcd to the normal upper end of the said receptacle. 1%; compressible-ring 7 is carried in said cap a and is adapted to be pressed against the upper lip 8 of the receptacle 2 to seal the mouth thereof and thereby prevent escape of fluid at such mouth. lVith this arrangement of parts it'willhe clear that PATENT OFFICE. f

liquid may be placed in the receptacle Qand the cap thereupon screwed down until the compressible ring 7 rests upon the .lip'S and seals said receptacle to prevent escape of liquid therefrom. a A

Hcretofore in fire extinguishers of the two-' solution type it has been customary to pro vide within the receptacle 2 a relatively short container adapted to hold a second or acid solution which is adapted to combine with the solution of the outer receptacle 2 to produce andeject a fire-extinguishing fluid or foam. This inner container: ordinarily was located. at the upper part of said receptacle and was held firmly in position by guides or by an enclosing frame, and the mouth thereof'was provided with a gravity stopple adapted to, cover it when the apparatus was in normal'upright, that is, inoperative position. Reversing the position of the extinguisher served to cause the stopple to fall out of the mouth of the container, this resulting in escape of liquidtherefrom into the outer receptacle and commingling therewith to form a tire-extinguishing foam which was forced out through. the tube lead ing from the receptacle.

The apparatus of the present invention is not intended to permit commingli'ng of the liquid of the inner container withthat of but is designed to permit effective sealing of the outer receptacle 2 and an inner con-, tainer 9 when the apparatus is not in opera- 'tive condition, so that there will be no commingling at such times of the solutions can ried therein and therefore no escape of tire extinguishing foam from the apparatus regardless of the position in which the extinguisher is carried or placed. l t is also designed to prevent escape of fluid at the cap 4: when the extinguisher being oper ated.

The improved means herein may dispense with the use of a special positioning and supporting device for the inner container. this container 9 being guided. loosely in the receptacle neck and resting at all times upon the inner surface of the bottom thereof. The container 9 will ordinarily be in the form of a cylinder having a main lower liquid-containing portion 10 and an upper portion 11 having openings 11. therethrough adapted to permit egress of liquid therefrom when the extinguisher is inverted with the parts thereof in their operative positions. The container near its upper end is formed with an inwardly projecting head 9 which not only reinforces the upp 1' portion of the container but also provides a ledge upon which is positioned and to which is secured by solder an annular lip 12. The lip 12 projects inwardly and upwardly, the upper margin thereof being turned down at an angle thus forn'iing a rounded seating surface adapted for the reception of a compressible sealing disc 13 having means connected thereto adapted to force .it down onto the lip 1201' to withdraw it from said lip. This operating means for the disc 13 is here shown as a clamp-screw l t threaded in the cap i and movable therein to raise or lower the sealing disc 13. Said clamp-screw M is operated by a hand-wheel 15, and a ball-and socket connection 16 is employed between the clamp-screw lt and the carrier-plate 16 of the sealing disc 13 to secure even pressure of said sealing disc against the lip 12. ith the container resting firmly upon the bottom .of the receptacle 2 and even pressure applied to the sealing disc 13, an effective sealing'of the container 9 is secured.

hen it becomes necessary to operate the extinguisher the hand-wheel is turned to withdraw the sealing disc 13 from the lip 12. This turning movement at the same time carries a compressible washer 17 upward up" ward until it compressed against the inner surface 18 of the cap 4: to seal the same at this point. The extinguisher may now be rerersed in position to efi'cct commingling of the two liquids, which will result in the formation and ejection of a tire-extinguishing fluid or foam from the tube without teal-:age at the cap i at either of the points or 18.

In order that the cap 4 may serve as a base for the extinguisher whenever it is so desired, I have shown it of such proportions that it will at all times and under all. conditions of service extend beyoml the handwheel 15 even when saidhand-wheel has been withdrawn to its outward limit of movement to effect sealing of the cap l at the point 18 at a time when the extinguisher is to be put into operation to discharge its lire-extinguishing foam.

What I claim is:

In a fire extinguisher, a liquid container of substantially uniform diameter throughout its length having openings in its wall near the top and formed witlran inwardly pressed head in its Wall below said openings, an annular lip positioned upon'and secured to said head within said container, said lip extending inwardly and downwardly thereby forming a seating surface, and a stopple having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said container and adapted to seat upon said seating surface.

Signed at Newark, in the county of Essex, and State'of' New Jersey, this 29th day of September, A. D. 1924.

PETER G. MAoGREGOR. 

